Teeth Whitening – Clarendon Hills, IL
Safely Remove Dental Stains and Brighten Your Smile
Dental staining might be a natural product of daily wear and tear, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it! By using professional grade whitening agents, Dr. Hong can brighten your smile – without damaging your enamel or causing sensitivity. Best of all, at Clarendon Hills Dental, you have treatment options: whiten your teeth from your living room with one of our take-home kits or get lightning-fast results with an in-office appointment. Let us know which option you’re interested in, and schedule your consultation today!
Why Choose Clarendon Hills Dental For Teeth Whitening?
- Highly Experienced And Knowledgeable Dentist
- Partnered With CareCredit For Flexible Financing
- Include Teeth Whitening In Your Smile Makeover Plan
Who Is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a suitable treatment for patients who want to eliminate mild to moderate dental staining. As the name suggests, you can expect your smile to look several shades whiter. Since the treatment process is minimal and noninvasive, we’ll simply need to review your medical history and examine your oral health.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
It depends on whether you choose the take-home method or an in-office whitening. Here’s a closer look at what you can expect for each method:
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
We use the Nite White system for our take-home kits. After taking impressions of your mouth, Dr. Hong will design and provide you with a set of customized plastic trays. You’ll carefully apply the whitening agent to your trays as instructed, then simply put them on for a certain amount of time each day. Most patients start to notice results within the first two weeks!
In-Office Teeth Whitening
For our in-office treatments, we use Opalescence Boost. Dr. Hong will apply the whitening agents himself, taking great care to avoid your gums and soft oral tissue. To speed up the process, we’ll shine a special curing light on your smile, and by the end of your appointment, you’ll see a dramatic difference.
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
Since you can develop dental stains simply by eating and drinking, you might be wondering how you can make your results last longer. Dr. Hong has performed many teeth whitening treatments, and recommends following these expert tips:
- Limit your consumption of foods and drinks with strong pigments, like coffee, tea, red wine, and tomato sauce.
- Brush your teeth twice daily and floss at least once per day.
- Visit our office every six months to have plaque and tartar removed from your smile.
- Try not to bite your nails, use your teeth as tools, smoke tobacco products, or engage in other bad dental habits.
- Consider using our take-home kits for occasional touchups.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
One of the first things people notice about you is the quality of your smile, and it’s only natural to want to make a positive impression. Professional teeth whitening can reduce the appearance of noticeable stains, but if you’re concerned about pricing, you might avoid scheduling your initial consultation.
Dr. Hong and the rest of our Clarendon Hills Dental team believe everyone deserves a bright, beautiful grin regardless of their financial situation. Continue reading to learn more about the cost of teeth whitening, and feel free to contact us for additional information.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening often has a pre-determined rate, but different factors can influence how many treatments will be needed to achieve the desired results, such as:
- The type of staining present. Blemishes in your enamel from consuming darkly pigmented foods often respond better to topical treatments than intrinsic stains that have reached the lower layer of dentin beneath your enamel.
- The severity of the discoloration. Patients with slightly off-white teeth may only need a single application, while those with darker tinting are more likely to require repeated treatments.
- Other required procedures. Our team examines your mouth before administering cosmetics so that no pre-existing issues, such as cavities or gum disease, interfere. You’ll be expected to cover any additional services to improve your oral health.
Types of Teeth Whitening and What They Cost
There are several ways you might consider lightening your grin, outlined in more detail with their potential prices below:
- In-office teeth whitening. We utilize Opalescence Boost to potentially brighten your smile by up to eight shades in a single visit, often for $400 to $800+, depending on the severity of your discoloration.
- Professional take-home kits. We can also provide everything you need to achieve consistent results from the comfort of your home, which might cost a few hundred dollars.
- “Over-the-counter” trays. Commercial-grade one-size-fits-all trays are sometimes available for $100 or less.
- Store-bought strips or kits. Different stores carry various brands of whitening products, often for $20 to $40 per box.
Commercial vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
If you’re looking at the information above, you might find yourself wondering why it’s worth investing in teeth whitening with your dentist when there are other potentially more cost-effective options. However, the quality of cosmetic products is often reflected in the pricing.
Over-the-counter solutions often contain more diluted bleaches that can provide inconsistent results. Furthermore, they rely on one-size-fits-all strips or trays that leave plenty of room for error.
Meanwhile, at our office in Clarendon Hills, Dr. Hong uses ultra-concentrated gels that are designed to minimize potential sensitivity and custom-fitted trays to optimize the outcome. Plus, we’ll address any additional areas of concern, like thinning enamel or swollen gums, so your grin is as healthy as it is beautiful after treatment.
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
Most dental insurance policies don’t cover cosmetic services that are designed to enhance your appearance more than your oral health, such as teeth whitening. If you’re worried you can’t afford to lighten your smile, you can apply for a flexible financial plan through CareCredit. If approved, this allows you to divide your invoice into more manageable installments over a designated period, which can be easier on your wallet.